Sherrill R. Strayhorn, 88, of De Soto died Jan. 16, 2022, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Mr. Strayhorn was a retired pattern maker and owned Progressive Pattern Co. in St. Louis. He was a member and later scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, and served on the Sunrise R-9 School Board for 17 years. He was a charter member of the Arnold Elks and a member of the Blackwell Masons. He held an aviator license and owned a Cessna 4-seater plane. He enjoyed being outdoors on his ranch, gardening, hunting, fishing, flying and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. Born Oct. 20, 1933, in Beebe, Ark., he was the son of the late Louie Strayhorn and Bethel (Edwards) Hettenhausen and the stepson of the late Maxine Strayhorn and Edward Hettenhausen.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years: Kathryn Johanna (Green) Strayhorn; four children: Cynthia (Don) Heimos, Tracie (Brad) Long, Deborah Harness and Mary Beth (Rick Bowen) Sapper, all of De Soto; a brother: Larry (Nancy) Strayhorn of Shelbina; a sister-in-law: Reba Strayhorn; a brother-in-law: Mike Bahr; 13 grandchildren: Robert (Lori) Heimos, Kenneth Heimos, Kathryn (Tim) LaBruyere, Andrew Eichelberger, Julie (Adam) Brewington, Joseph Eichelberger, Shaun (Melissa) O’Rourke, Ryan Harness, Johanna (Larry Smith) Harness, Tiffany (Bryan Savage) Galster, Elisha (Kaleb) Jaragin, Jarred (Amanda) Sapper and Jacob (Abby) Sapper; 26 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by a brother: Harrell Strayhorn; a sister: Marilyn Bahr; a brother-in-law: Joseph Green; and a sister-in-law: Kathleen Green.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1620 Boyd St., in De Soto. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in De Soto. Memorials may be made to Sunrise R-9 School District outdoor classroom, 4485 Sunrise School Road, De Soto, 63020. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.